Pagan Culture - Ritual & Liturgy

While I haven’t led numerous public rituals, I have attended my fair share over the years, and I have a good understanding of basic ritual structure. That being said, should I ever need to present public rituals on a regular basis, this book will be at the top of my stack of research materials. An expanded version of Rites of Worship, Neopagan Rites is a guide to just about everything you could possibly need to think of when planning rituals — public or private.

Called to Lead

Three steps to forming a new magickal group
— one that lasts!

You feel an urge, a nudge, hear a voice in your mind that says, “It’s time for me to find a group to practice with.” But try as you may, there’s nothing suitable where you live, or you’ve tried a number of possibilities and none of them are quite right. Maybe you are a member of a group already, but you feel it is time to step out on your own; or maybe your friends are urging you to form your own group. But are you ready? What if something goes wrong? Is it arrogant for you to think you can lead?

The decision to form a magickal group can be a difficult one. It may begin with a desire for social interaction, education, or even just the chance at an ego boost. But most of us who consider such a step will feel doubt about it — are we the best one to lead the group? Is it going to be too much effort to maintain? Once it’s been started, what will we do? In the end, creating a healthy magickal group depends on three factors: defining your purpose, building connections to others, and building a group mind.

1

Define your role and the purpose of the group. The job description for the leader of a magickal group might read something like this: Leader needed to train a group of people in the mysteries of magick and divinity. Must have extensive personal knowledge of subject and a desire to work long hours without financial rewards. Teaching ability, counseling skills, intimate understanding of energy patterns required, calm and centered personality advisable. Now that’s a tall order! (I’ve been leading my current group for seven years now, and I still have trouble with the final qualification.) Although many people believe that the ultimate honor is to be called High Priest/ess (or whatever exalted title your tradition uses for its leaders), the prestige, respect and (especially) renumeration accorded to Pagan leaders can be easily overstated